Pomp as Eldoret becomes Kenya's fifth city

Held at Eldoret Sports Club, the event featured dances and cultural exhibitions that showcased the new city's heritage.

President Ruto alongside Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii signed the charter, sealing the town's city status. 

During his speech, the Head of State reaffirmed that Eldoret had passed the criteria for an urban area to become a city. 

"Now therefore in exercise of the powers conferred on the head of state under section 7 of the Urban Areas and Cities Act, I Kipchirchir William Samoei Ruto, president of Kenya and commander in chief of Kenya's Defence Forces do hereby ordain, declare and direct that the municipality of Eldoret has been conferred with city status," President Ruto said. 

Additionally, the president also awarded the Order of the Burning Spear (CBS) to distinguished men and women who played a remarkable role in representing Eldoret in their respective dockets. 

These included three time Diamond League champion Vivian Cheruiyot, former Nominated MP Ezekiel Barngetuny, educationist Paul Boit and former mayor Joseph Lesiew among others. 

The municipality was conferred to a city after the Senate endorsed the report formed by the Committee on Devolution and Intergovernmental Relations which approved the proposal. 

Following its approval in the Senate, Governor Bii said the new status would attract investors and position Eldoret as a hub for business and investment opportunities. 

“We are looking at opportunities that the city will bring to us. We know we will attract investors from all over the world. We need to package ourselves in a way that the whole world know we are here,” the governor said in Eldoret town on August 13, 2024. 

Eldoret's origin dates to 1908 when South Africans settled in the area to escape British rule. They had travelled from South Africa by sea and by rail from Mombasa and walked from Nakuru to Uasin Gishu. 

After the settlers found it unsuitable to farm, they established an administrative centre which attracted other settlers from nearby farms. More families joined in 1911 and later the town of Eldoret was built in the middle of the farms. 

Currently, Eldoret has various economic activities ranging from large scale farming to manufacturing industries. It is also home to legendary Kenyan athletes and hosts several training grounds such as the IAAF High Altitude Training Centre.